The Steelers are not built to go shopping for trade-deadline chaos by dealing away starters, but Patrick Queen is the one name worth at least keeping on the table.
That idea might sound counterintuitive after Queen just put together one of the best games of his Pittsburgh tenure. In the Steelers’ win over the New Orleans Saints in Paris, he racked up 10 tackles, added a sack and came close to snagging an interception. His closing speed and run support were on point.
Still, that kind of outing is exactly why this is the moment to explore his market. Queen has a habit of flashing just enough to make you pause, but not enough to trust him for long stretches. If Pittsburgh can turn a spike performance into real value, it should at least listen.
There is already some evidence that other teams would have interest. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler noted in a recent trade-candidate ranking that teams checked on Queen in the spring, with the Cowboys among those who asked about his availability. Fowler also pointed out that Queen is a 2027 free agent and wrote, “But the Steelers' status as a 5-2 team likely keeps him in Pittsburgh,”
Fowler ranked Queen 10th among the league’s top trade candidates and gave Pittsburgh a 20 percent chance to move its starting linebacker. If a linebacker-needy team gets aggressive, the Steelers could be in position to cash in.
The case for dealing him is pretty straightforward once you strip away the one-game surge. Queen has been in Pittsburgh for two and a half years now, and the evidence is what it is. He disappears too often, and the tape has shown too many shaky reps to ignore.
The Week 4 loss to the Browns was a good example. Pro Football Focus credited Queen with four tackles, two missed tackles and receptions allowed on all four targets. His all-22 film from that game was ugly.
Even after the strong Paris performance, his season-long numbers still leave plenty to be desired. Queen entered that game with three straight overall grades under 48.0 from Pro Football Focus, and his 58.2 overall grade for the season ranks 50th out of 75 qualifying NFL linebackers. Last season he finished 79th among 88, and the year before that he was 65th of 84.
If the Steelers decide the timing is right, there’s a market argument to be made. A team in need of linebacker help before the deadline could pay more than expected, especially if the price is set by a seller who knows it’s moving a player off a strong showing. A fourth-round pick sounds realistic, and a third-rounder with Pittsburgh adding a fifth- or sixth-rounder could also be in play.
Pittsburgh would not be left empty-handed at linebacker, either. Elandon Roberts is back on the roster and waiting for a shot. He has built a reputation as one of the league’s better downhill enforcers at the position, and the Steelers could also work Cole Holcomb or a defensive back into passing-down situations, or simply use Roberts as a blitzer.
At 5-2, the Steelers are unlikely to make this kind of move. But Queen’s name should not be ignored if the right offer comes along.
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